Next year’s ‘Android M’ update might take Android in an exciting new direction

Google is working on a new Android version that is specifically created to better fit cars, Reuters has learned, and that should offer users a smart car experience regardless of whether or not they connect an Android phone.

Codenamed Android M, this Android version is not expected for another year, and is supposed to be a completely different take on adding smart features to a car than Google’s existing Android Auto project.

Instead of requiring a smarpthone to be connected at all times in order to access certain apps while driving, Android M will be built directly into a car, being able to work independently from other Android devices.

The services could integrate many apps, including Google Maps navigation, in-car information and entertainment, but also smart assists that could make driving easier — like offering immediate gas stations directions once gas level reaches a certain level.

As for Google, tapping into the resources offered by the car ecosystem might be beneficial for its advertising business. “You can get access to GPS location, where you stop, where you travel everyday, your speed, your fuel level, where you stop for gas,” one of the sources said.